ASTM E1180 - Sulfur Printing

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In today’s digital age of photography, there is still a photo processing method that can only be done manually—sulfur printing of steel and cast iron.

Background:

This method, first published in 1987 as ASTM E 1180, can be used on most ferrous alloys to provide the distribution of sulfide inclusions.  This analysis method is also referred to as Baumann prints.

Although the test is qualitative in nature, it is sometimes possible to compare image densities, provided manganese sulfide formed the images.  Note, however, the print image density cannot be used to determine steel sulfur content.

Potential Applictions:

• complement macroetch methods for evaluating steel product homogeneity
• presence of porosity or crackling
• segregation pattern determination (including refilled cracks)
• hot or cold working flow
• solidification pattern details
• assess deoxidation nature (rimming action vs. killed steel sulfur distribution)
• failure analysis
• material acceptance
• process control
• research & development studies
• nature of metal flow (e.g. forging operations) with samples cut parallel to metal flow direction

Sample Preparation:

Samples for evaluation may be oriented either longitudinally or transversely, depending on the application.  Other considerations are also important in sample selection, such as avoiding sample regions affected by burning or hot shearing.  Sample surface preparation is important to avoid cold working of the surface.  Touchstone can provide advice on selecting your samples, and also will prepare the samples for steel sulfur printing.

ASTM E1180 is just one of many analyses we perform on steel and cast iron.  Also available are metallography, light microscopy, failure analysis, corrosion evaluation, and mechanical testing.

Reference: ASTM E1180: Standard Practice for Preparing Sulfur Prints for Macrostructural Examination